Sleigh



UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E. LEE, OF ALMONT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO \VILLIAM M. GRAY, OFBRUCE, MICHIGAN.

SLEIGH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent na'aeasez, dated June 28,.1887.

Application filed February 14, 1887. Serial No. 227,479. (No model.)

To all whom it may cncerm- Be it known that 1, ROBERT E. LEE, ofAlniont, in the county of Lapeer and State of Michigan, have inventedcertain Improvements in Sleighs, of which the following is aspecification. v

This invention relates to that class of running gear for sleighs inwhich tubular metal is used in place of wood; and it consists in IOcertain features of construction hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of therunning-gear of a sleigh constructed according to my invention. 1 Figure2 is a cross-section through one of the runners adjacent to one of theknees.

Referring to the drawings,A represents the, runners of the sleigh bentinto an upward and inward curve at the front, the ends returning. towardthe main part of the runners and being secured in T-couplings B, towhich latter are secured the front knees,O, forming practically acontinuation of the runners, and secured thereto at their lower ends,thus insuring a 2 strong and rigid fastening for the front ends of therunners. The forward body-supporting bench, D, is secured to thecouplings B and serves to connect and stiffen the front ends of therunners, suitable brace-rods, E, being employed to impart additionalrigidity and strength to the forward end of the runninggear. These rodsmay be variously connected and extended in any desired direction, and Ihave shown them as extending from each side 5 of the knees to therunners, from the knees to the bench, and from the bench to the runners.The brace-rods extending from the bench to the runners, and one of therods extending from each knee 0 to the respective runners, I 40 place ina substantially horizontal position,so as to support a draft-beam, F, towhich shafts or a pole maybe attached, and which extends across thefront of the running-gear behind the upward-curvedportions of therunners, v and is-fastened .by suitable clips, or other means, either tothe brace-rods or the runners, or to both. Near the rear of the runnersare secured the rear knees, G, connected at their upper ends to the rearbench, H, by Templings I, and brace-rods K extend from the said knees tothe runners and to the said bench.

To combine strength and rigidity with lightness, I construct therunners, knees, and

benches'of tubular material-such f orinstan ce, asgas-pipe. Astheroundedsurface of gaspipe runners will present but a very narrow surface tosupport the sleigh, even when worn, and the runners will sink deeplyinto the snow unless it is thoroughly packed and hard, and as therunners must be entirely renewed when 5 worn,-I protect them, and at thesame time obtain abroad tread,by securing to their under sidesrunner-irons M-such as are used with sleighs having wooden runners-thesaid irons being preferably substantially rectangular in crossseetion,as shown in Fig. 2, extending up the front ofthe runners for a suitabledis tance and being curved upward over the rear ends of the saidrunners. The irons may be secured to the runners by any suitable means II such, for instance, as bolts extending therethrough and having theirheads countersunk into the said irons. While the knees may be secured tothe runners in any suitable way, I prefer to secure them by splitting orbifurcating the ends so that they will straddle or embrace the runners,

being fastened by bolts passing through the split ends of the knees andthe runners, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is l. The combination, with a sleigh runnerhaving an upward and inward curve, ofa knee connected at the lower endto the main portion 8 of the runner, in line with and forming acontinuation of the curved portion of the runner, and a couplingconnecting the upper end of the knee and the end of the curved portionof the runner together, substantially as de- 0 scribed.

, 2. The combination, with a sleighrunner having an upward and inwardcurve, of a knee in line with and forming a continuation of the curvedportion of the runner, a T-coupling connecting the end of the runner andthe upper end of the knee together, and a bench connected to one branchof the said coupling, substantially as described. y

3. A running gear for sleighs, consisting of I00 tubular runnersprovided with runner-irons and bent upward and inward at the front ends,

tubular knees and benches, the front knees be- In testimony whereof Ihereunto set my hand, is ing connected to the ends of the runners, andthis 15th day of January, 1887, in thcpresencc brace-rods connected tothe runners, knees, of two attesting witnesses, and benches,substantially as described. 5 4. The combination, with a slcigh-runner,-OBERT E. LEE.

of a knee having one end split or bifurcated to embrace said runner, andfastening devices \Vitncsscs: securing the knee to the runner,substantially G. R. FERGUSON, as described. F. P. MoILiRnY.

